ROAD RUNNING
DIVING INTO THE RESULTS
According to the Comrades Marathon Association , 15,991 athletes entered the 2022 Comrades Marathon . The official timekeepers say that there were 13,213 runners on the start line , which indicates a drop-off of 2778 before the race even started . Of these , it is thought that some 1700 were not able to qualify , while many of the remaining 1000 or so non-starters most likely withdrew due to illness , injury , financial limitations or other commitments .
In total , 11,709 athletes finished within the 12-hour cut-off , meaning that 1504 of the starters were not able to earn a medal , and that figure of 11,709 representing an 88.6 % finish rate on the day , and 73.2 % finish rate of the original entrants . ( By comparison , there were 16,702 finishers when the race was last run in 2019 , out of 21,625 entrants , representing a 77.2 % finish rate .)
Tragically , two male runners passed away during the race . Phakamile Ntshiza collapsed near the halfway mark of the race and reportedly passed away before he could be transported to hospital , while Mzameleni Mthembu suffered a heart attack while running through the Pinetown area . He was taken to Westville Hospital , where he later passed away . The Modern Athlete team would like to join the CMA in extending our deepest condolences to their families , friends , colleague and running clubmates .
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